Study on Similar Materials for Weakly Cemented Medium and Indoor Excavation Test

The escalating disasters caused by the movement of shallow buried strata in China’s western mining areas are increasingly threatening operational safety. A critical issue in ensuring secure mining practices in these areas is the creep failure of weakly cemented soft rock under low-stress conditions. The unique particle contact mechanisms in weakly cemented mudstone, combined with the persistence of the cemented materials and the particulate matter they form, lead to mechanical responses that differ significantly from those of typical soft rocks during loading. Building on an existing multivariate linear regression equation for new similar materials, this study developed qualified weakly cemented medium similar materials, offering appropriate materials for long-term creep tests of weakly cemented formations. This was accomplished by employing orthogonal proportioning tests. The principal findings of our investigation are as follows: The new, similar material exhibits low strength and prominent creep characteristics, accurately simulating weakly cemented materials in western mining areas. The concentration of rosin–alcohol solution has a measurable impact on key parameters, such as σ_c, E, and γ in the weakly cemented similar material specimens. Furthermore, the creep characteristics of the specimens diminish progressively with an increase in the proportion of iron powder (I) and barite powder (B). The material was applied to a similar indoor model test simulating the weakly cemented material surrounding the auxiliary haulage roadway in Panel 20314 of the Gaojialiang Coal Mine, with speckle analysis employed for detailed examination. The experimental findings suggest that both the conventional mechanical properties and long-term creep characteristics of the material align with the required specifications, offering robust support for achieving optimal outcomes in the similar model test.